They were evaluated closely in the pre-draft process, but it was hard to give one the edge. Both were 6-5 and 230-plus pounds. Leaf had the bigger arm, Manning the better pedigree, Leaf more potential.

Time has proven Manning magnificent. Leaf, who has been arrested three times on charges that he stole prescription drugs, played three seasons in the NFL. His record as a starter: 4-17. His criminal record continues to grow, and he currently faces as many felony charges as he has NFL wins.

In three seasons, he was 7-18 as a starter and had a QB rating of 65.2. He was arrested in 2010 (after his release from the Raiders) for possession of codeine syrup.

It should be some consolation to the Raiders that there wasn’t a Manning in the group—the QB class of 2007 (Brady Quinn, Kevin Kolb, John Beck, et al.) is arguably the worst of all time.

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3. Tony Mandarich, T, Green Bay Packers, No. 2 pick overall, 1989

What hurt him most were the great expectations and impossibly high standards he had created for himself with steroid use, a training camp holdout and the largest contract for an offensive lineman at the time ($4.4 million over four years).

The Bengals struggled mightily for most of the 1990s, and much of the problem stemmed from terrible results with their high-first-round picks. The best—or worst—example is Carter, whom they selected out of Penn State.

After signing a then-rookie record contract ($19.2 million over seven years, with a $7.1 million signing bonus), he tore an ACL during an exhibition, missed the season and was never quite the same. He went on to play seven more years in the NFL but averaged just 163 yards per season.

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6. Bruce Pickens, CB, Atlanta Falcons, No. 3 pick overall, 1991

You can bet Pickens is in the back of drafters’ minds when they think about using a top five pick on a cornerback.

He was highly regarded coming out of Nebraska but made barely a blip in the NFL with only one sack and two interceptions in nine career starts over four seasons.

Smith started one season at Oregon, but after he threw 32 touchdown passes, NFL scouts were drooling. Turns out, he was a one-year college wonder; Smith compiled a 3-14 record as a starter in four seasons, after which the Bengals cut him.

Thomas started a bad trend of Penn State rushing disappointments—including Carter and Curtis Enis—that didn’t end until the Chiefs drafted Larry Johnson 15 years later. Thomas’ career was derailed by injuries; in six seasons, he made 36 starts, averaging 373 yards per season.

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Curtis Enis, RB, Chicago Bears, No. 5 overall pick, 1998

Chicago Bears running back Curtis Enis (39) lasted just three seasons in the NFL, accounting for less than 1,500 total rushing yards. He found the end zone just six times. (John Russell/AP)

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Heath Shuler, QB, Washington Redskins, No. 3 overall pick, 1994

Washington Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler was in the NFL for four seasons, starting a total of 22 games. He had a staggeringly terrible ratio of 15 touchdowns to 33 interceptions over that stretch. (Doug Mills/AP)

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Rick Mirer, QB, Seattle Seahawks, No. 2 overall pick, 1993

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Rick Mirer lasted eight seasons in the NFL He threw 50 touchdowns and 76 interceptions and compiled a career record of 24 wins and 44 losses with the Seahawks, Bears, Jets, 49ers and Raiders. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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Mike Williams, WR, Detroit Lions, No. 10 overall pick, 2005

Detroit Lions receiver Mike Williams never worked out in the Motor City, but did enjoy one brief season of success in 2010 with the Seahawks, catching 65 balls. The rest of his career was an unequivocal bust., accumulating just 62 catches total in his other four seasons. (Jay Drowns/Sporting News)

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Mike Mamula, DE/LB, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 7 pick overall 1995

Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Mike Mamula never lived up to the hype. His season with 8.5 sacks in 1999 stood alone his shining career accomplishment. (John Dunn for Sporting News)

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Tim Couch, QB, Cleveland Browns, No. 1 pick overall 1999

Cleveland Browns QB Tim Couch was the face of the "new" team, but he took a beating behind a poor offensive line and never bounced back. A career record of 22-37 and a TD-INT ratio of 64-79 tell the story. (Albert Dickson / Sporting News)

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David Carr, QB, Houston Texans, No. 1 pick overall 2002

Houston Texans QB David Carr, much like Tim Couch, took too many hits behind a poor offensive line. He was described as having happy feet, but a No. 1 QB with a record of 23-56 as a starter can only be described as a bust. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Jason Smith, T, St. Louis Rams, No. 2 pick overall 2009

Tackle is usually the safe spot in the draft. Not with St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith. He's already on his third team, the New Orleans Saints, after being cut by the New York Jets. (Phil Coale/AP)

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Troy Williamson, WR, Minnesota Vikings, No. 7 pick overall 2005

After a number of high profile success stories at receiver, the Vikings missed on Troy Williamson. He had just 87 catches over five seasons before bowing out of the league in 2009. (Bob Leverone/Sporting News)

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Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, No. 7 overall pick 2009

Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey lasted four seasons before departing for the Indianapolis Colts. DHB bounced back for some success with five touchdowns in 2012, but nothing that would merit a top 10 pick. (Tony Avelar/AP)

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Tim Biakabutuka, RB, No. 8 overall pick 1996

Tim Biakabutuka's best season came in 1999, running for 718 yards and six touchdowns. But he never cracked the century mark and was plagued with fumble issues in his final seasons. (Bob Leverone/Sporting News)

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Courtney Brown, DE, No. 1 overall pick 2000

Courtney Brown was the No. 1 selection of the Cleveland Browns, but his best season came with six sacks in 2003. After five seasons, he departed Cleveland for Denver. He was out of the league at 27. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Gerard Warren, DT, No. 3 overall pick 2001

It's not that Gerard Warren didn't last in the NFL -- he played from 2001 to 2011 -- but he had little payoff for the Cleveland Browns. The combination of Warren and Courtney Brown never materialized into the dynamic defensive line duo they hoped. (Marc Piscotty for SN)

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Vernon Gholston, DE, No. 6 overall pick 2008

Former Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston is widely regarded as one of the worst draft picks of the last decade. After being selected No. 6 overall in 2008, Gholston hasn't seen the field since 2010. The defensive lineman registered a whopping zero sacks in his three seasons. (Edouard H.R. Gluck/AP)

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Derrick Harvey, DE, No. 8 overall pick 2008

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey rushes the passer against the Houston Texans during second half action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Jacksonville, Fla. (Stephen Morton/AP)

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Aaron Curry, LB, No. 4 overall pick 2009

Seattle Seahawks' Aaron Curry before the NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers' in the first half of an Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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Rolando McClain, LB, No. 8 overall pick 2010

Oakland Raiders football player Rolando McClain smiles for the camera after he was arrested and handcuffed by Decatur (Ala) Police captain Nadis Carlisle, left, and officer Kirk Hamilton , Thursday afternoon, Dec. 1, 2011. McClain was arrested and charged with assault in the third degree, menacing, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm inside the city limits in an incident that took place late Wednesday night, Nov. 30, 2011, in his hometown of Decatur. (John Godbey/The Decatur Daily/AP)